See Through by Jokelate

We don’t see much independent animation from China – but you really need to see this one. After working on it alone for three years, a Chinese independent animator known as Jokelate has created this surreal anti-war themed animation titled See Through. It’s apparently a huge viral hit in China. It’s 16 minutes, uploaded in two parts on YouTube:

nice film. One comment though for the life of me I can never ever understand why CG artists (and its usually only only the 3D ones) credit the software they used. I have no idea why.

Mike Johnson

You know, the word “epic” gets tossed around the internet so freely these days that it seems to have pretty much lost it’s intended impact. That being said, this is truly EPIC. Especially considering that this was made by a single animator. 30 seconds of completed animation a month, or one second each day. I suppose this is just par for the course in animation, but the dedication impresses me nonetheless, especially given the outcome.

The look of it is fabulous, the idea of using playing cards is sheer brilliance, since it is the perfect metaphor for what goes on in real life…soldiers and equipment really are playing cards manipulated by small-minded children with overgrown egos.

I really got involved in the story, and could feel the tension as the two pilots fought each other, and could almost smell the chemicals of war in the battle scenes. The comic moments were such a great counterpoint to the deadly seriousness of the battle…it’s as if someone threw a Chaplinesque desert isle comedy into the middle of a war film, and damned if it didn’t get me laughing as much as contemplating!

This has been put into my YouTube favorites for repeated viewing. I hope that it will get lots and lots of notice, and thanks for posting it here, Jerry. It is, for me, one of the high points of my Cartoon Brew experience thus far!

http://www.taberanimation.com Taber Dunipace

Very very nice!

Patrice

Fantastic!!

Amazing piece!

Don’t stop watching if you do not like the crude animation of the beginning sequence, it gets much, much better!

Many great ideas!

Hope this guy secure a nice career after investing 3 years of his life in this; he deserves it!

http://kelseighn.blogspot.com/ Kelseigh

One of the best short animations I’ve seen in a while, in terms of pacing and sheer acting. And that’s even with the high standards of a lot of recent shorts.

http://www.4colorrebellion.com M Tucker

This was an insanely creative animation and I’m extremely impressed that he’s self-taught and managed to create this himself.

Great animation, and I was thrilled to hear a tune from Unreal Tournament 2004 near the end.

Gio Renna

Simply amazing! From a stylistic viewpoint, I love how the artist pushes the medium to different stylistic extremes. The storytelling is sensational (funny and touching), and best of all it’s in pantomime.

But what I still have trouble believing (even though I know it’s true) is that this film was made by one man in 3 years. To get a CG film of such richness and quality in as little time Jokelate did is simply inhuman. Even though he claims he barely ever left his house and lived off on very little, I cannot imagine the shear work, vision and dedication that a piece like this may require!

Inspirational considering his situation. I hope this brings him and his family much fortune.

Also, I laughed when he shows the Title Safes and the Maya files for a split second. This better not be the last we hear of him.

Jay Sabicer

@ Robert Kohr: When a work of quality (at least in the animator’s eye) gives credit to the software, it’s usually a way of having said software company an opportunity to advertise some of the better examples. To do that, however, the software company will usually offer a future release or allow them to beta-test a new version of their software, in exchange for magazine rights or for trade shows, actual video of the final product. It’s in most instances, a win-win arrangement.

Paul K.

Absolutely brilliant. Fantastic directing– a keen mix of humor and severity. This needs an Academy Award…

wgan

that dude is my hero now

Ben

Thank you for posting this. So awesome! The style reminded me a lot of Metal Slug. :)